Ric Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars – a new wave rock band of the 1980s, died Sunday in New York City at the age of 75.

The New York Police Department said Ocasek was found dead at a townhouse on East 19th Street, Manhattan.

The Cars, co-founded by Ocasek with bassist and singer Benjamin Orr in Boston in 1976, recorded more than a dozen top 40 singles.

The bands’ hits included “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Good Times Roll,” and “Just What I Needed.”

After The Cars disbanded in the late 1980s, Ocasek turned into a noted producer, working with influential punk and rock bands like Bad Brains, Weezer and Bad Religion.

Fans and musicians poured tributes in honor of the musician on social media.

One of them described Ocasek as “Master of tight, melodic guitar pop.”

“When older people talk about no good music on the radio today, they’re talking about music like Ric Ocasek and The Cars,” said Jason P. Woodbury, co-host of the Transmissions podcast.

Cause of death was attributed to heart disease and emphysema.

Source: RTT News